Title
Resolution promoting a Step Up Initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails.
Body
WHEREAS, counties routinely provide treatment services to the estimated two million people with serious mental illnesses booked into jail each year; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, Lake County had over 9,000 adults booked into our jail, with over 3,000 (42%) of the adults previously admitted in our jail, within the past three years; and
WHEREAS, in Lake County, an average of 600 psychological assessments per year are performed on adults involved with the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, in February 2015, our jail's electronic medical record snapshot reported 39.8% of the adults in our jail, received psychotropic medication; and
WHEREAS, in July 2013, to address concerns that adults released from our jail were running out of prescribed medications while waiting four to eight weeks for psychiatric service appointments. Lake County provided a pilot program with the goals to assist with medication maintenance, reduce recidivism, improve the adult's quality of life and increase post-jail release success. The pilot program provides five hours per week of services, administers prescription medications, and has served 147 adults released from the jail into the community; and
WHEREAS, increasing law enforcement and service staff training on crisis intervention and trauma informed care can ensure that all services and interactions are delivered in an environment perceived to be safe to all participants, and can assist in diverting adults from our jails and into treatment programs; and
WHEREAS, almost three-quarters of adults with serious mental illnesses in jails have co-occurring substance use disorders; and
WHEREAS, 64% of the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring (TIM) Drug Court clients in 2012, had serious co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders; and
WHEREAS, adults with mental illness...
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